Cusick charged with murder in the first degree

June 26, 2013

By

Kim Ross

Spiro man suspected of beating and burning his girlfriend to death has been charged with first-degree murder.
Elec E. Cusick, 39, of Spiro has been incarcerated since he was arrested Jan. 24 after being released from a Tulsa hospital for injuries he received during a fire at his home. His girlfriend, Myrtle Cooper, 47, of Spiro, was injured in the incident and later died on March 14 in a Tulsa hospital.
On Wednesday, the LeFlore County District Attorney's Office charged Cusick with murder in the first. He had previously been jailed on charges of kidnapping and assault and battery by means likely to produce death. The change in charges were delayed pending the results of the Oklahoma Medical Examiners report. According to LeFlore County Sheriff Rob Seale, the M.E. ruled Cooper's death was homicide.